The course fees for UK students in 2021 to 2022 are £9,250.
Aston Community Education Trust Business Studies (232R)
PGCE with QTS full time
- Accredited body
- Sheffield Hallam University
- Financial support
- Student finance if you’re eligible
- Qualification
-
PGCE with QTS
A postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) with qualified teacher status (QTS) will allow you to teach in state schools in England and may allow you to teach in other parts of the UK.
It may also allow you to teach overseas, though you should always check what qualifications are needed in the country you’d like to teach in.
Many PGCE courses include credits that count toward a Master’s degree.
- Age range
- 14 to 19
- Course length
- 1 year
- Date you can apply from
- 13 October 2020
- Date course starts
- September 2021
- Website
- http://www.astonacademy.org/index.php/school-direct
Contents
- About the course
- School placements
- Entry requirements
- About the training provider
- Fees and financial support
- Interview process
- Training with disabilities and other needs
- Contact this training provider
- Support and advice
- Apply
About the course
You will spend the majority of your time in your main placement school which, depending on your location, will usually be Aston Academy. You will be part of a team from day one and will receive high training from experienced teachers on a wide range of topics. One day a week you will be at Sheffield Hallam University giving an excellent blend of practical experience and also chance to reflect and make use of the research expertise of university-based tutors. Additional training will take place at other academies within Aston Community Education Trust.
To complement your development as a teacher you will complete two assignments at Masters level, exploring key issues relating to your subject and your role.
Key Features of the course
- A dedicated team of tutors who provide excellent support for all students.
- A strong subject-specific cohort. You will have chance to develop working relationships with your peers whilst in the university, which provides you with a support network once out on placement.
- The chance to reflect. Teaching is an intensive profession, and at the start of your career it is essential that you have the opportunity to develop skills as a reflective practitioner. During your placements, for example, you will spend every Friday in the University sharing your experiences and considering ways in which you can develop your teaching.
For information about the university based elements of the course please click here
School placements
You will undertake three periods of school experience:
- At least two days in a primary school early in the programme
- Your main placement for the majority of your training
- A 5 week contrasting placement at another school in our partnership
We work with 13 schools in Sheffield, Derbyshire, and Rotherham. This range of inner-city, suburban and rural contexts provides rich opportunities for diverse and balanced experiences in schools, and we work hard to secure you two contrasting placements.
When arranging placements, personal circumstances such as child-care and additional needs are taken into account as much as possible.
Entry requirements
Qualifications needed
Applicants should have an undergraduate degree class 2:2 or above in a relevant subject. If less than 50% of your degree is in your specialist subject you will be required to undertake a Subject Knowledge Enhancement course as a condition of entry to the programme.
If you have a 3rd class undergraduate degree and a strong (grade A or B) A level in your specialist subject we may consider your application but you should be aware that you will not be eligible for a bursary.
If you have non-standard qualifications you are welcome to contact us to discuss your eligibility
Personal qualities
We consider six key elements when selecting students for our PGCE programme:
- Commitment to teaching
- Insight into the realities of teaching
- Resilience
- An analytical approach to problem solving
- Enthusiasm for your subject
- Interpersonal and communication skills
We will consider your strengths in each area during the selection process, including when considering your application form.
Other requirements
As this course leads to a professional qualification, student teachers will be required to undertake a DBS Enhanced Disclosure and Work Health Assessment. All Student teachers will also be required to complete Safeguarding training. Full information about how to undergo these checks will be provided once you accept your place on the course.
Fees and financial support
About the training provider
Aston Academy is the lead school for Aston Community Education Trust (ACET) School Direct. At Aston Academy we are committed to providing high quality learning and teaching which is reflected in our Ofsted report where we were judged to be a Good provider.
Trainees are placed at one of our 18 primary or secondary partnership schools in Sheffield, Rotherham and Derbyshire. Our partnership schools vary in their educational setting giving trainees access to a variety of experiences over a wide geographical area.
For secondary, the majority of student teachers will be at Aston Academy for one of their two placements and have another placement at one of our partnership schools. Further information can be found here or here
For primary including early years, trainees have their placements at two of the ACET junior academies. Further information can be found here
Last year 100% of ITT trainees rated their overall placement at Aston Academy as good or outstanding.
So far this year 100% of candidates have rated their in school training as excellent.
Interview process
Once we receive your UCAS application we will consider a number of factors in making our decision about whether to interview you:
- Do you demonstrate a clear interest in becoming a teacher?
- Do you have strong references that suggest you have the capacity to train to be a teacher?
- Do you have highly developed subject knowledge, or an awareness that you need to develop this?
- Have you written a strong personal statement, demonstrating your commitment to teaching, your passion for your subject and an understanding of the realities of the profession?
Your selection day will take place either at the Aston Academy or one of our partner schools, and will consist of the following elements:
- Welcome, a tour of the school and introduction to the course
- A task designed to ensure that your subject knowledge is strong
- An activity with a small group of pupils, and reflection on this experience
- A formal interview, carried out by at least two school representatives
Training with disabilities and other needs
As a student teacher at The University of Sheffield or Sheffield Hallam University you will have full access to support if you have a disability or additional needs. Full information is available on the following links:
The University of Sheffield Sheffield Hallam University
Additionally, we work closely with all our school partners to ensure that your needs are met whilst on placement, offering support and adaptations where necessary.
Contact this training provider
- schooldirect@astonacademy.org
- Telephone
- 0114 2872171
- Website
- http://www.astonacademy.org/index.php/school-direct
- Address
-
Aughton Road
Swallownest
Sheffield
South Yorkshire
S26 4SF
Support and advice
For support and advice, you can speak to a Get Into Teaching adviser for free. They’re all experienced teachers who can help you to prepare your application, book school experience, and access exclusive teaching events.
You can also call Get Into Teaching free of charge on 0800 389 2500, or speak to an adviser using their online chat service Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm (except public holidays).
Find out about the different ways to train if you do not have a degree, or are already an experienced teacher.
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Apply
Courses are currently closed but you can still start or continue an application anyway.
You'll be able to:
- find courses starting in the 2022 to 2023 academic year from 9am on 5 October 2021
- submit your application from 9am on 12 October 2021